NT Election 2024 – Recreational Fishing Policies

AFANT, is pleased to confirm that we have secured commitments from NT Labor and the Country Liberal Party to fundamentally reform the NT Barramundi Fishery by phasing out the use of gillnets over the next term of government. While the specific details of the commitments differ in some ways, both parties have committed to end commercial gillnetting for barramundi within four years. Of course, Barramundi reform was not the only policy put forward, and in response to the 43 questions in AFANT 2024 Election Policy Questionnaire, both major parties have made a range of important commitments on:

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The NT Greens have also been engaged with AFANT, and have provided a comprehensive policy response document. A number of independent candidates have also provided commitments or statements of position.

While we are pleased to have received broad support for a range of essential policy positions, it is important to note each party has a specific position and the details of the party positions often differ. This is why we encourage all interested fishers, as well as people with jobs or businesses in the $270M NT recreational fishing industry to download the 2024 AFANT Election Policy Response document to see for themselves exactly where the major parties stand on the issues that will impact or support a bright future for recreational fishing in the  NT

You can also access the direct responses from NT Labor here, the CLP response here and the response from the NT Greens here.

The Independent Member and candidate for Mulka has also provided a response available here. And we have received a response from Justine Davis – Independent Candidate for Johnston, which is available here.

AFANT has been contacted by a number of other independent candidates and will update this page if we receive further materials.

AFANT undertook this process to ensure that political parties would be fully aware of the policies and investments required to support recreational fishing, and to help inform the 60,000 adult Territorians who fish, as well as our industry members, about where each party stands on the issues important to their lifestyle, industry, and fishing future. We will never tell people how to vote and we are committed to working with any future Government to ensure that our shared vision for a bright fishing future becomes a reality.

Background:

While the NT enjoys an enviable position as Australia’s top fishing jurisdiction, excellent fishing is not a lucky accident. Instead, great fishing is dependent on a range of policy settings, investment decisions, responses to challenges and changing situations (both local and external), and sometimes this requires decisive commitments to trade-offs. Changed circumstances in the barramundi fishery are an example of the latter, and policy reform in this area is seen as being foundational to the future growth and prosperity of our sector.

AFANT’s 2024 Election Policy Questionnaire is heavily informed by the NT Recreational Fishing Development Plan and the document details the opportunities and challenges facing our sector over the next four years. AFANT is asked the major parties to commit to a range of policies and strategic investments across seven key areas over the next term of government. These areas are; barramundi reform, fisheries management, access to fishing areas, development and infrastructure, industry and community support, water regulation, and environmental management.

Barramundi management reform is front and centre with AFANT seeking wholesale reform, including the phasing out of industrial scale, inshore gillnetting over the next four years.

See more about the questionnaire here